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, 10 September 2023→Meteors as stars fired at devils: Making notes and changes to a non-visible page as I work through creating it
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== Meteors as stars fired at devils == | == Meteors as stars fired at devils == | ||
'''Definitions'''<ref><nowiki>https://www.dictionary.com/e/meteor-vs-asteroid-vs-comet/</nowiki>> </ref>''':''' | |||
''Meteoroids'' are the somewhat small, rocky or metal-based objects flying around space, typically unseen except with sophisticated equipment. They are often fragments of asteroids or comets. | |||
''Meteors'' are the meteoroids that enter Earth’s atmosphere, where they often burn up—meaning they can often be seen with the naked eye. This is what we sometimes call a shooting star. When there are a lot of them at once, we call it a meteor shower. | |||
''Meteorites'' are the meteoroids that have made it all the way to Earth’s surface (though these two terms are sometimes used interchangeably). | |||
''Asteroids'' are rocky objects that vary in size, but on average they’re between the size of a meteoroid and a planet. Asteroids are mostly found within the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. | |||
''Comets'' are made up of mostly ice and dust and are known for the tail of gas and dust that gets blown away from them when they’re near the sun. Some, like asteroids, orbit the sun and come around in regular intervals. | |||
''Stars''<ref>[https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-resources/what-is-a-star/#:~:text=But%20just%20what%20is%20a,the%20closest%20star%20to%20Earth. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-resources/what-is-a-star/#:~:text=But%20just%20what%20is%20a,the%20closest%20star%20to%20Earth.]</ref> are a luminous ball of gas, mostly hydrogen and helium, held together by its own gravity. Nuclear fusion reactions in its core support the star against gravity and produce photons and heat, as well as small amounts of heavier elements. The Sun is the closest star to Earth. | |||
'''Introduction''' | |||
Many cultures had mythology surrounding meteors and meteorites, with some believing they were weapons. For example: | |||
{{Quote|Golia, Maria, Meteorite: Nature and Culture (Earth), Reaktion Books, p. 57 (Kindle Edition)|The oldest portions of Avestan scripture, thought to record Zoroaster’s words, say the sky is made of ‘hardest stone’ and worn as armour by Ahura Mazda, god of creation and cosmic order. Avestan texts contain many astronomical references, and the word asana means both ‘sky’ and ‘stone’. On one occasion, Zoroaster was said to have defeated demons with ‘a massive stone received from God’.}} | |||
{{Quote|Golia, Maria, Meteorite: Nature and Culture (Earth), Reaktion Books, p. 72 (Kindle Edition)|'Echoing themes from Mesopotamian and classical antiquity, the San god Koa xa, ‘lord of the animals’, used a meteorite to fight lions that attacked his son.'}} | |||
And many confusing them with stars moving across the sky, for example: | |||
Meteor showers were generally of unknown cause to 7th Century Arabs, as the historian and geographer Al-Ya'qubi reports several meteor showers that happened just before and during Muhammad's lifetime (In 571 AD and 609 AD), attributing them to shooting stars and planets striking devils<ref>https://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-iarticle_query?bibcode=1992QJRAS..33....5R&db_key=AST&page_ind=6&plate_select=NO&data_type=GIF&type=SCREEN_GIF&classic=YES</ref>, with the multitude of them potentially leading to the idea they are 'pelted from every side'. | |||
'''The Quran:''' | |||
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A hadith in Sahih Muslim confirms that the 'pursuant flames / missiles' in the two verses refer to meteors which they saw shooting across the sky. | A hadith in Sahih Muslim confirms that the 'pursuant flames / missiles' in the two verses refer to meteors which they saw shooting across the sky. | ||
{{Quote|{{Muslim|26|5538}}|'Abdullah. Ibn 'Abbas reported: A person from the Ansar who was amongst the Companions of Allah's Messenger (pbuh reported to me: As we were sitting during the night with Allah's Messenger (pbuh), a meteor shot gave a dazzling light. Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said: What did you say in the pre-Islamic days when there was such a shot (of meteor)? They said: Allah and His Messenger know best (the actual position), but we, however, used to say that that very night a great man had been born and a great man had died, whereupon Allah's Messenger pbuh) said: (These meteors) are shot neither at the death of anyone nor on the birth of anyone. Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, issues Command when He decides to do a thing. Then (the Angels) supporting the Throne sing His glory, then sing the dwellers of heaven who are near to them until this glory of God reaches them who are in the heaven of this world. Then those who are near the supporters of the Throne ask these supporters of the Throne: What your Lord has said? And they accordingly inform them what He says. Then the dwellers of heaven seek information from them until this information reaches the heaven of the world. In this process of transmission (the jinn snatches) what he manages to overhear and he carries it to his friends. And when the Angels see the jinn they attack them with meteors. If they narrate only which they manage to snatch that is correct but they alloy it with lies and make additions to it.}} | |||
Other relevant verses are {{Quran|55|33-35}} (flame of fire and smoke, though a slightly different context) and {{Quran|72|8-9}} . | Other relevant verses are {{Quran|55|33-35}} (flame of fire and smoke, though a slightly different context) and {{Quran|72|8-9}} . | ||
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Stars are an average 5 light years away from each other in our galaxy[14]. For context, a light year is the distance light travels in one year, which is 5.88 trillion miles/9.46 trillion kilometres.[15] This again makes them an odd choice for a protection/guard, with trillions of miles/kilometers of mostly empty space between them. | Stars are an average 5 light years away from each other in our galaxy[14]. For context, a light year is the distance light travels in one year, which is 5.88 trillion miles/9.46 trillion kilometres.[15] This again makes them an odd choice for a protection/guard, with trillions of miles/kilometers of mostly empty space between them. | ||
On a separate note, though stars are described as an ornament or beauty for the sky in | On a separate note, though stars are described as an ornament or beauty for the sky in [https://quranx.com/37.6 Quran 37:6], and [https://quranx.com/67.5 Quran 67:5], there are an estimated minimum c.100 septillion stars in the known universe[16], but only a few thousand are actually visible to the naked eye.[17] | ||
'''Meteors, meteorites and asteroids:''' | '''Meteors, meteorites and asteroids:''' | ||
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Therefore, for them to make a 'clear flame' by turning into meteors, this would have to be thrown a minimum ~179.5 million km / 111.5 million miles while the jinn are still in the Earths atmosphere, with the flame 'pursuing them' for only a tiny fraction of the process (<0.01%), adding to the problematic nature of these verses. | Therefore, for them to make a 'clear flame' by turning into meteors, this would have to be thrown a minimum ~179.5 million km / 111.5 million miles while the jinn are still in the Earths atmosphere, with the flame 'pursuing them' for only a tiny fraction of the process (<0.01%), adding to the problematic nature of these verses. | ||
Stars: | '''Stars:''' | ||
Stars are an average 5 light years away from each other in our galaxy. For context, a light year is the distance light travels in one year, which at 186,000 miles/300,000 kilometres per second equals 5.88 trillion miles/9.46 trillion kilometres. This again makes them an odd choice for a protection/guard, with trillions of miles/kilometers of mostly empty space between them. | Stars are an average 5 light years away from each other in our galaxy. For context, a light year is the distance light travels in one year, which at 186,000 miles/300,000 kilometres per second equals 5.88 trillion miles/9.46 trillion kilometres. This again makes them an odd choice for a protection/guard, with trillions of miles/kilometers of mostly empty space between them. | ||
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However these verses and story would of course fit a relatively small universe as imagined by 7th century Bedouins, with the stars appearing visible distances away from each other, and were assumed to be the same thing as 'shooting stars'/meteors, as it was interpretated at the time (including by many other cultures), and backed up by 'sahih' (authentic) hadith. | However these verses and story would of course fit a relatively small universe as imagined by 7th century Bedouins, with the stars appearing visible distances away from each other, and were assumed to be the same thing as 'shooting stars'/meteors, as it was interpretated at the time (including by many other cultures), and backed up by 'sahih' (authentic) hadith. | ||
On a separate note, though stars are described as an ornament or beauty for the sky in | On a separate note, though stars are described as an ornament or beauty for the sky in [https://quranx.com/37.6 Quran 37:6], and [https://quranx.com/67.5 Quran 67:5], there are an estimated minimum c.100 septillion stars in the known universe, but only a few thousand are actually visible to the naked eye. | ||
'''Islamic Commentators:''' | |||
''For verse 67:5'' | |||
Ibn ‘Abbas says: (And verily We have beatified the world’s heaven) the first heaven (with lamps) with stars, (and We have made them) i.e., the stars (missiles for the devils) such that some of them become bewitched, some are killed while others are burnt, (and for them) for the devils (We have prepared) in the Hereafter (the doom of flame). | |||
Al-Jalalayn say: And verily We have adorned the lowest heaven the one closest to the earth with lamps with stars and made | |||
Haqq, Abdul. The Qur'an's Difficult Verses Explained (pp. 118-119). Evaluation Press. Kindle Edition. | |||
Ibn Kathir says: To those who ponder and look repeatedly at the dazzling signs and wonders that are to be seen in the creation, Allah mentions His creation of the heavens, with their immense height, and both the fixed and moving heavenly bodies with which He has adorned it... Allah made the “shooting stars’’ to guard it against the evil devils who try to listen to information conveyed at the highest heights. If any devil breaches it and advances hoping to listen, a clear “shooting star’’ comes to him and destroys him. He may already have passed on whatever he heard before the fire hit him, to another devil below him; the latter will then take it to his friends (among humans), as is stated in the Sahih. | |||
Haqq, Abdul. The Qur'an's Difficult Verses Explained (p. 121-122). Evaluation Press. Kindle Edition. | |||
''For verse 72:8-9:'' | |||
Ibn ‘Abbas says: “( And we used to sit on places (high) therein) in heaven (to listen) before the advent of Muhammad (pbuh). (But he who listened now) after the advent of Muhammad (pbuh) (findeth a flame) a shining star (in wait for him) from the angels in order to prevent them from listening;” Al-Jalalayn say: The jinn say: ‘And we made for the heaven we desired to listen by stealth but we found it filled with mighty guards from among the angels and meteors; scorching stars. This was at the time of the sending of the Prophet. | |||
And we used to, that is to say, before his Mission, sit in certain places therein to listen in; but anyone listening now will find a meteor lying in wait for him aimed at him ready to strike him. | |||
Ibn Kathir says: Allah informs about the Jinns when He sent His Messenger Muhammad and revealed the Qur’an to him. Among the ways He protected it (the Qur’an) was by filling sky with stern guards guarding it from all of its sides. The devils were then expelled from the places where they used to sit prior to that. This was so that they could not steal anything from the Qur’an and tell it to the soothsayers, thereby causing matters to be confused and mixed up. If this happened it would not be known who was being truthful. Allah did this out of His kindness to His creation, His mercy upon His servants and His protection of His Mighty Book (the Qur’an). This is why the Jinns said, and we have sought to reach the heaven; but found it filled with stern guards and flaming fires. And verily, we used to sit there in stations, to (steal) a hearing, but any who listens now will find a flaming fire watching him in ambush. Meaning, whoever would like to steal some information by listening, he will find a flaming fire waiting in ambush for him. It will not pass him or miss him, but it will wipe him out and destroy him completely. | |||
Haqq, Abdul. The Qur'an's Difficult Verses Explained (pp. 123-124). Evaluation Press. Kindle Edition. | |||